Highly effective medication is available to prevent Heartworms disease. Mosquito control is certainly helpful but should never be the only means of prevention for your pet.There are two main medications which are available in tablet or liquid forms. Some medications are given once a month and others are given daily. Heartworm medications kill the larvae which might be floating in your pet's circulatory system.  This prevents adult heartworms from developing in your dog's blood. Because the drug kills the larvae which might have been injected into your pet's bloodstream within the 30 days since the last administration of the medication, and because of the high risk of heartworm cases in our area, the local Vets advise all pet owners that they need to give heartworm preventative medications year round.

Important points in treatment: 

1. Heartworm preventatives must not be given to dogs which already have larvae in their bloodstream.  Your dog must be blood tested prior to starting any heartworm medication.
   
2. Weigh your dog monthly during the treatment period because a change in your pet's weight might require a dosage change.
   
3. If you give the drug in your pet's food, mix the medication in a small amount of food and give first.  If the medication is mixed in the whole bowl, your dog might not eat everything in the bowl, resulting in the dog not receiving the required dosage of medication.
   
4. Heartworm medications must be given as prescribed to be effective and given on schedule.  You must not skip doses.   Skipped doses can result in harm to your pet!